More will indexes and abstracts added to the National Wills Index

An index of Lancashire wills and abstracts of Surrey wills have been added to the National Wills Index by the Origins Network.

Lancashire Wills Index 1457-1748 & 1793-1812

The Origins Network says: “Over 32,600 testators are now available for searching online within the Lancashire Wills Index. The Archdeaconry of Richmond comprised that part of Lancashire north of the River Ribble, and parts of Cumberland, Westmorland and Yorkshire. It was further subdivided into deaneries.

“Wills from the western deaneries from the following Lancashire & Cheshire Record Society volumes are included in this collection:

Volume 10 – Index to wills proved in the western deaneries of the Archdeaconry of Richmond 1457-1680, plus index to abstracts (summary) of wills 1531-1652 proved in the Archdeaconry of Richmond (mainly deanery of Amounderness) where the original wills no longer survive. Published 1884.

Volume 13 – Index to Wills proved in the western deaneries of the Archdeaconry of Richmond 1681-1748. Published 1886.

Volume 66 – Index to Wills proved in the western deaneries of the Archdeaconry of Richmond, and the peculiar of the Manor of Halton 1793-1812. Published 1913.

“The index includes the testator’s name, place of residence, year/date of will and deanery in which the will was filed.

Surrey PCC Will Abstracts 1736-1794

“Our growing collection of Surrey records now includes abstracts to wills for Surrey testators proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC) 1736-1794. Over 15,300 testators are included.

“The PCC was the senior and most important of the pre-1858 ecclesiastical courts claiming over-riding jurisdiction over the whole of England and Wales. Wills of those dying overseas were also usually proved in the PCC.

“The abstracts include all names and places appearing in the will, plus incidental information such as occupations etc where found in the original document. This information is both rich and valuable to the family historian.”